Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunost1302’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunost1302’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with purple and red purple-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNOST1302’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunost1302’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of the program is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compact and uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractive ray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in May, 2009 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 07.50.014, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 08.22.004, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark since November, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunost1302’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunost1302’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large daisy-type inflorescences with purple and red         purple-colored ray florets.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum are not as upright as plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the female parent         selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female         parent selection have purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum are not as upright as plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the male parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent         selection have red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunost1202’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Odense, Denmark, plants of the new Osteospermum differed from plants of ‘Sunost1202’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more compact than plants         of ‘Sunost1202’.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum were not as upright as plants         of ‘Sunost1202’.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunost1202’ differed in         ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunost1202’ had red-colored ray         florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunost1302’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Sunost1302’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during early summer in 11-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunost1302’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 07.50.014,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 08.22.004,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright, outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; inflorescences             positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong             peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18.9 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 27.6 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit             with about six primary lateral branches per plant; pinching             enhances branching potential. Length: About 11.6 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 6 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Sparsely to moderately pubescent.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile.             Length: About 5.9 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Narrowly attenuate. Margin: Pinnatifid.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely to moderately             glandular pubescence; rough. Venation pattern: Pinnate,             arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B to             143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B;             venation, close to 143A to 143B. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Between 138A and 147B; venation, close to             144C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and             axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on             strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing             acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly             upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 30             inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—In Denmark, plants of the new             Osteospermum flower continuously from spring to late summer;             early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about eight to             ten weeks after pinching.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of plants of the new             Osteospermum last about two weeks on the plant;             inflorescences not persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 137B to 137C; towards             the apex, close to 174B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.2 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.3 cm. Receptacle             diameter: About 2.2 cm. Receptacle height: About 7 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Mostly smooth, glabrous; towards the             base, pubescent. Number of ray florets per inflorescence:             About 24 arranged in two whorls. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to N79C; towards the apex, close to 59B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 185A; venation, close to             N186C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N79C; towards             the apex, close to 58A; color becoming closer to between             N77A and N79A with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 185A; venation, close to N186C.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.             Length: About 8 mm. Diameter, apex: About 4 mm. Diameter,             base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 80. Color, immature: Apex: Close to N77C. Mid-section:             Close to 156C to 156D. Base: Close to N77C. Color, mature:             Apex: Close to 70D. Mid-section: Close to 156D. Base: Close             to 70D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 22 arranged in             two whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,             lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 147B; margins, close to 147D. Color, lower surface:             Close to 137C; margins, close to 137D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.2 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncles: Mostly             upright. Aspect, axillary peduncles: About 30° from stem             axis. Texture: Sparsely to moderately pubescent. Color:             Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 6 mm.             Anther color: Close to 203B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 17B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.             Stigma color: Close to N186C. Style length: About 4 mm.             Style color: Close to 75D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Osteospermum. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Osteospermum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunost1302’ as illustrated and described. 